Panama is the only Latin American country the US has formally invaded, which occurred in 1989 under President George HW Bush. “Operation Just Cause” ostensibly was aimed at removing President Manuel Noriega, who was later convicted of drug trafficking and other offences.

For example, there has long been concern about China’s military use of its “Deep Space Radar” in Neuquen, Argentina. The radar is operated with little Argentine government oversight by an organ of the PLA, and uses communications frequencies commonly used by the Chinese military.

Chinese residents in Argentina await Chinese President Xi Jinping's arrival before the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Buenos Aires, November 29, 2018.Paula Ribas/Getty Images US officials and lawmakers have for years voiced concern about growing US influence in ...

Military procurements in Latin America have sparked fears of a new arms race, led by Venezuela. But is it really a build-up or more a need to modernise ageing hardware? Now defused, the border confrontation between Colombia and Venezuela in early March has ...